Mattie’s Diner, the cherished restaurant housed in a 1940s chrome diner car on The Plaza, will close after the lunch shift on Aug. 10.
Why it matters: Mattie’s is a longstanding local favorite known as much for its breakfast staples as it is for its family-friendly patio and feisty New Jersey attitude.
Between the lines: Mattie’s has been for sale for about nine months, owner Matt King tells Axios. He’s closing the diner to focus resources on his more profitable breakfast restaurants — The Wafflery, which has locations in the Belmont neighborhood and Boone.
- The Wafflery’s Charlotte location is doing well despite its relatively small size, says King, who credits its success to its to-go business model, loyal customer base, plus the fact that it sells liquor. It’s also an easier, more streamlined and duplicatable menu than the diner, King adds.
- In terms of profit, King says the Charlotte Wafflery made more in three months than the diner did in three years.
What he’s saying: “It’s time to grow this other business,” King tells Axios. “We can’t devote the time and energy that the diner needs to thrive. It’s a special place, no doubt.”…